“Why, there is not a great deal to tell,” he said. “I reckon Dick’s horse must have stumbled and thrown him. It stunned him some, of course. Then there were some gents what happened along and picked him up, and that’s about all.”
She looked at him in doubt and bewilderment.
“But I didn’t see any one. Why didn’t I see them?”
Buckhart coughed behind his hand to get a little time for thought.
“Why, these yere gents I speak of,” he said, “were afraid to be seen, for they have been up to some doings that were not just exactly on the level. That being the case, they took him up all quietlike and stepped into the chaparral with him, and doctored him, and fixed him O. K. Of course, they will want to be paid for that little job, and that’s why they are keeping him. You leave everything to Frank. He will settle with them and bring Dick back as sound as a nut. You hear me chirp?”
Having made this statement, the Texan felt greatly relieved. He had managed to get through it some way, although it was a hard strain on him. Still, Felicia was not entirely satisfied, and her fears were not fully allayed.
“If these men are bad men,” she said, “won’t they harm Dick some way?”
“Ho! ho! ho!” laughed Brad. “What a foolish notion to get into your head, Felicia. Whatever good would it do them to harm him? What could they make out of that? It’s up to them to take the best care of him, so Frank will feel like coughing up liberal when he settles. You can see that easy enough. So don’t worry over it any more.”
“No, don’t worry over it any more, child,” put in Mrs. Jones. “Just go to bed. The strain on you has been severe, and you must rest.”
“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t rest until I see Dick! Don’t you think I may see him soon? Don’t you think Frank will bring him here right away?”